For triathlon athletes who train in the pool, do you have pool swim times that you aim for (especially given the different water conditions)? For competitive swimmers who are also triathletes, are there meet events you like to do or that you cross over well?
Here are the Masters Swimming Motivational Times based on the U.S. Masters Swimming (USMS) Meet results. Looking for any feedback on whether these are helpful!
1. Percentile-based Motivational Times are based on the percentile ranking of the personal best time of each US Masters Swimming swimmer who swam the event in the same age group and gender (also known as Event Ranking) in the 2024-2025 season for SCY, and 2025 season for LCM and SCM:
AAAA - overall top 2%
AAA - top 6%
AA - top 8%
A - top 15%
BB - top 35%
B - top 55%
2. USMS Motivational Times are based on the criteria USMS last used in 2024, which are 2026 NQTs with a flat percentage added to each standard:
AAAA - 2026 National Qualifying Times (also known as NQTs)
I finally got old enough to make every single AAAA time in every event and every stroke and distance. I can make all the AAAA in the age group below me except for the 3 back strokes, and about half of all events in the two age groups below.
The motivational top time seems a bit high though, I make no AAAA and just some of the AAA. And I just did the 2nd fastest SCY 200 breast in the country, so I think I’m top 2% or better??
These are fun to look and compare, actually can be goals for some folks, fast ones going down an AG or two, slower folks looking at oldsters times to do. I remember in the old days I would see my time, and then look how old would I have to be to hold the records. It usually was at least 20 years older, but that is closing down fast now unfortunately! (-;
And no fishes, I do not know this new poster, and it wasn’t a plant for any back door brags… (-;
Yep, I think Motivational Time Charts are meant for a wider range of swimmers, while Percentile-based motivational times are for very competitive and elite athletes.
The Motivational Time Chart is based on a flat time add percentage added to the USMS NQT (which is the default AAAA standard for that chart), which is the Top 10 overall in that event + 15 percent flat time add for 50’s and 100’s, and 10 percent flat time add for events 200 yards and longer. Then, it adds the following flat time percentage:
AAA - 5% slower than AAAA
AA - 10% slower
A - 14% slower
BB - 24% slower
B - 33% slower
Percentile Times ranks all of the personal bests from the 2024-2025 season for short-course yard events and 2025 for long-course meters and short-course meter events, and takes the top 2%, 6%, 8%, 15%, etc. ranked.
Yep, I think Motivational Time Charts are meant for a wider range of swimmers, while Percentile-based motivational times are for very competitive and elite athletes! For the percentile-based times, they’re based on the 2025 numbers (as 2026 hasn’t ended yet) so your 200 breast could be an AAAA if it holds up!
Where did you swim the 2nd fastest SCY 200 breast? That’s my focus event, too, though I’ve been slacking a bit and focusing on a lot on sprint freestyle.
I swam it on the last day to record SCY, May 31st at the Rose Bowl. SO it may take a little bit to register, but good news is that no one can now push me out of that 2nd place now that the SCY season is over..
I’d say that these types of these are very helpful and motivating. I do use motivational time standards, but I’ve been trying to hit the current times for USA Swimming age groups. Monty is very fast and quite inspiring. Myself, currently working on 11-12 Boys B times. Haven’t actually seen these USMS charts before. Thanks for posting!
I can hit all the B freestyle times, and a couple of the BB, on the USMS Motivational Times chart, close on some of the stroke and IM. (all from a push in a brief). Not close to the Percentile-based times though. (40-44 male). Probably more motivating for faster age-groupers in tri.
So many triathletes seem to loathe swimming. Maybe for some of them, if they were trying to just nail some fast 25s, 50s, and 100s, they might find a little more enjoyment than hopping in and trudging through 2k straight. They might also learn to swim better, faster.
thanks for posting these, had not looked at them in a while..
in 65-9 Motivational, could make AAAA in 50 free, with a steady deterioration down to A for the 1650..
50 fly, B at best, scarcely make it onto the chart at all
next eight weeks are bike focus, will swim once a week merely. At some point I need to do a swim focus and see if it budges any of these times..
